Trash bag holder and trash bag therefor



Nov. 16, 1965 M. E. FRAZIER TRASH BAG HOLDER AND TRASH BAG THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1965 mum l FIG. 3

FIG. 4

R mm MP 5 8 U h w M United States Patent p F 3,218,014 TRASH BAG HOLDER AND TRASH BAG THEREFOR Michael E. Frazier, Springfield, Mass, assignor to Tac, Inc., Springfield, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed May 31, 1963, Ser. No. 284,696 14 Claims. (Cl. 248101) This invention relates to a trash bag and trash bag holder, and has for an object to provide an improved trash bag holder and a trash bag for use in combination with the particular trash bag holder of this invention.

A further object of this invention is to provide a trash bag holder which will hold the trash bag of this invention firmly in position, so that trash may be easily placed therein, and is provided with a cover for keeping the trash bag completely sealed in between the times that additional trash is placed therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a trash bag holder which cooperates with the trash bag for holding the trash bag firmly in position with the trash bag cover in either open or closed position.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved trash bag consisting of conventional trunk-type of paper bag, such as the grocery store type, wherein the upper portion of the bag is slit down a short distance so as to provide four foldable lips, and furthermore, which is provided with a full line indicated sufiiciently below the top so that there will be ample space to fold over the top and carry the bag without danger of spilling.

A further object of this invention is to provide a trash bag generally rectangular in shape, having four lips folded over on the outside thereof, and to provide a holder mounted in a convenient position so that when the trash bag is inserted with its lips over the holder and moved down therein, the lips will automatically extend over the holder.

A further object of this invention is to provide a holder for a trash bag consisting of a rectangular frame secured in a suitable location (as against a wall or on a suitable support) with the rectangular frame for holding the trash bag consisting of a rectangular frame over which lips of the trash bag can extend and a funnel-shaped rectangular frame hinged to one side of the first rectangular frame, so that it may be folded down over the trash bag lips and securely hold the trash bag between the funnel-shaped hinged portion and the rectangular rigid frame, the funnelshaped hinged portion, in cross section, having an angularly extending downwardly slanted inner face, a horizontal face to come over the top of the rigid frame and the bag thereon, and an outside lip around three sides thereof to hold down three of the lips of the bag, the fourth lip extending rearwardly without a downwardly extending lip; and a cover provided with a piano hinge along the rear fourth side thereof, the piano hinge on the cover being complementary to an upstanding cooperating piano hinge portion on the rear of the rectangular funnel portion, so that when a flat cover from which the hinge extends folds down, it will cover over the funnelshaped holder on top of the bag, the edge of the cover on four sides over the top of the funnel-shaped cover on its horizontal top portion being provided with a rubber gasket seal secured thereto so that when the cover is in down position, it will rest entirely on the rubber gasket and make a fiy-proof sealed connection thereto so that no flies or insects can get between the cover and the funnelshaped holder.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a trash bag holder wherein there is provided a rigidly placed rectangular frame over which lips from a trash bag are placed, a funnel-shaped bag holder hinged over this rec- 3,218,014 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 tangular frame so that it will hinge down and grip the bag in position, and a closure top hinged to the cover provided with a flange or cooperating with the funnelshaped holder for sealing the bag.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a trash bag holder consisting of a rectangular frame having a pivot means thereon for a funnel-shaped bag holder, so that the funnel-shaped bag holder may be lifted up to permit the lips of a trash bag to be placed thereover and the funnel-shaped holder then hinged down to secure the bag in position. On the funnel-shaped holder there is provided a flat sealing cover hinged thereto so that it may be closed thereover to seal the top of the bag and keep it closed against access to insects, flies, etc., until such time as the bag or trash is removed therefrom for disposal purposes.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a bag holder and bag therefor, which, while primarily intended for a folding bag in trash-receiving position, including a cover, may also be made in other sizes suitable for other purposes, with or without the cover, such as at a grocery check-out counter, for holding the grocery bags in open position while being packed or as a laundry bag while packaging laundry, or the like.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the trash bag holder, in closed position, with a trash bag in position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the trash bag, ready for insertion in the holder.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the holder and bag.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partly broken away.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of FIG. 5, also showing the cover in partly open position.

There is shown at 10 the trash bag holder of this invention, and at 12 is shown the trash bag therefor. The holder 10 includes a rectangular frame 14 consisting of a front bar 16, a rear bar 18, both integrally secured at their ends between side bars 20 and 22. As an example, in one size, the bars 16 and 18 may be fourteen inches long, while the bars 20 and 22 may be twelve inches long, and each of these bars may be one quarter inch thick and one inch deep.

At the rear of the frame 14, supporting bars 24 and 26, here shown as being integral extensions of side bars 20 and 22, are suitably integrally secured as by spot welding, to a vertically extending bracket plate 28, which may be secured as by screws 30 to a vertical wall 32, at possibly about thirty eight inches above a basement or garage floor, or wherever the trash may normally be accumulated. A triangular reinforcing gusset 34 is similarly welded to the bottom end portions of each of supporting bars 24 and 26 and to the bracket plate 28. The frame 14 is thus firmly supported on the bracket plate 28 and in turn on the wall 32.

Extending inwardly, toward each other, from each gusset 34 is a short sleeve 36, and these sleeves 36 provide a bearing or journal for the ends of rod 38. Secured on the journaled rod 38 are a pair of upwardly and forwardly extending arms 40 on which is secured a bag clamping frame 42, whereby the bag clamping frame 42 may be pivoted upwardly and away from cooperative relationship with the fixedly mounted rectangular frame 14.

The clamping bag frame 42 includes a rectangular horizontal fiat portion 44 overlying the top surfaces of bars 16, 18, 29 and 22, and in the above example, this fiat portion 44- would be about three eighths inch wide. Extending integrally inwardly of the horizontal portion 44 and slanting downwardly is a frustum-shaped funnel portion as. Extending vertically down from horizontal portion 44 on the outer sides of the front bar 16 and the two side bars 2% and 22 are depending lips 48. Extendtending rearwardly from the portion 44 over the rear bar 18 are a plurality of spaced apart tongues 50 curved upwardly around a hinge pivot rod 52 and forming part of a piano hinge 54. Between the tongues 50 on the clamping bag frame 42 there extends, curved downwardly about the same hinge pivot rod 52, a plurality of similarly spaced apart tongues 56 extending rearwardly from a top cover 58, the two sets of tongues 50 and 5e, and the pivot rod 52 constituting the piano hinge 54.

At their forward ends, the two arms 4% are integrally secured to two of the upwardly curved tongues 5% of the clamping bag frame 42, as a result of which, the clamping bag frame may be lifted off the rigidly fixed rectangular frame 14 in a pivotal motion about the journaled rod 38 and thus be supported in an upward position leaning slightly against the wall 32.

The top cover 58 includes a fiat plate of rectangular in shape, and of a size to completely overlie the clamping bag frame 42. The hinge tongues 56 extend integrally and downawrdly curved from the rear edge of the cover plate 64), and extending integrally and vertically downwardly from the other three sides. of the cover plate 60 are depending lips 62, the vertical depending lips 62 on cover plate 69 extending parallel to and adjacent the depending lips 48 of clamping bag frame 42 when the cover is in closed position. A suitable handle knob 64 is provided on the cover 58.

As a result of the formation of the piano hinge 54, as above described, the rear end of the cover plate 69 is spaced somewhat above theclamping bag horizontal portion 44 overlying the rear bar 13, and when the cover plate 60 is in horizontal position, parallel to the plane of the top surfaces of the fiat portions 44 of clamping bag frame 42, the entire cover plate 66 is similarly spaced from the top of the clamping bag frame 42. Secured to the bottom inside of the cover plate 66 is a rectangular sealing member 66, of rubber or other compressible material, of a width to completely overlie the horizontal portions 4-4 of clamping bag frame 42'and a thickness slightly greater than the space between the top of clamping frame 42 and the bottom of cover plate es when both are in horizontal parallel planes, to be thus slightly compressed and form a tight seal between the cover 58 and the clamping bag frame 42.

The trash bag for use in the trash bag holder 16' is shown at 12 in FIG. 2 in position for insertion in the bag holder 10. This trash bag 12 is a rectangular, folding bag, having dimensions corresponding to the inner dimensions of the fixed rectangular frame 14, and is foldable inwardly in two of its opposite sides 68 in a conventional manner so that the bag 12 may be shipped and stored in a flat condition occupying a minimum of space. At the top ends, the corners of each of thebag sides 68 and 70 are slit at 72 to thus provide bag lips 74 which are folded outwardly and downwardly therefrom at the fold lines 76, the lips '74 being approximately one and a half inches, more or less, while the height of the bag 12 from the rectangular bottom '78 to the fold line 76 is the same thirty eight inches as that height that the rigid mounted rectangular frame 14 is above the room floor surface. On the inner side of the surface of the bag sides 68 and 70 there is imprinted a fill line 8% at a suitable distance below the fold lines '76 so as to provide a sufiicient flap for closing the top of the bag 12 when the bag is full, so that it may be removed, closed and carried without danger of spilling the contents.

In operation, the clamping bag frame 42, together with the cover 58, is pivoted upwardly back against the wall 32, whereupon the trash bag 12, opened up as shown in FIG. 2, is inserted into the rigid rectangular frame 14 so that its lips '74 extend over the rectangular frame bars l6, l8, 2% and 22, with the bottom 78 of the bag 12 in contact with the room floor. Then the clamping bag frame is closed down onto the rigid frame 14 with its funnel portion 46 extendinginto the top of bag 12 a slight distance, pulling the fold lines 76 against the frame bars 16, 18, 2t and 22, which action is also assisted by the clamping bag frame vertical lips 48 coming down on three sides of the rigid frame 14, over three of the bag lips 74, the fourth bag lip 74 extending under the piano hinge 54 and over the extending arms 40. The bag lips 74 of course are clamped down between the undersurfaces of the rectangular fiat horizontal portions 44 of clamping bag frame 42 against the upper surfaces of the four bars 16, T18, 20 and 22 of rigid frame 14, securing and clamping the bag lips 74 in position and holding the bag 12 in open position. Of course, if the just-mentioned undersurfaces and the top surfaces of the bars of frame 14 should be somewhat irregular, shim material such as a thin rectangular rubber member, similar to that at 66, could be provided, possibly on the undersurfaces, to increase the clamping effect.

Then, the cover $8 may be manually lifted by the knob 64 about its piano hinge 54 back against the wall 32, uncovering the open bag, which of course is still retained in clamped position by the clamping bag frame 42. The trash is then put into the bag 12 through the funnel portion 46, and then the cover 58 is closed. This is repeated, from time to time, until the trash in the bag 12 has accumulated to the fill line Si While closed, the cover 58 seals the bag opening very tightly, making it impossible for flies or insects to enter the bag 12.

When the trash has reached the fill line 80, the clamping bag frame 42 is pivoted up back against the wall 32, and the bag is removed from the rigid frame 14, pulling the bag lips 74 from their now released position on the rigid frame 14. As thus removed, the top end of the bag 12 is folded over to close the bag, permitting the bag of trash to be temporarily stored until it can be removed and disposed of, and a new bag 12 is similarly put in position into the rigid frame 14, an ample supply of bags being normally kept handy. Inthe dimensions given as an example, a trash bag 12 is normally equal to or somewhat in excess of the capacity of the usual trash can.

There has thus been provided by this invention a trash bag holder and trash bag greatly simplifying the trash disposal problem. The various parts may be made of any suitable material, not only metal, but also of suitable high impact plastic material, or a combination of suitable materials, and the term welding, as herein mentioned, also includes suitable securing of .plastic or other suitable materials together.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is: v

1. A holder for holding and clamping the open top of a bag in receiving position, said holder comprising an open rectangular frame consisting of bars rectangular in crosssection, the top and bottom sides of said bars being horizontal, a bracket supporting said frame in fixed horizontal position, and a rectangular bag open top clamping frame pivoting thereto in overlying relationship to said flat top side of said fixed open rectangular frame, said clamping frame having flat horizontal clamping surfaces and a vertical depending clamping lip on the outer edge of a plurality of the sides of said horizontal clamping surfaces, and an inwardly downwardly slanted non-clamping lip, said lip extending downwardly and inwardly of the clamped portion he bag, said lip being on the inner edge of each flat top overlying horizontal surface of said overlying clamping frame and slanting away from the vertical inner side of said open rectangular frame and providing a funnel directing material being placed in the bag clamped therein away from the inner sides of the bag adjacent the clamped portions thereof.

2. The holder of claim 1, said bracket comprising a pair of bars extending rearwardly from said open rectangular frame, and a vertically extending bracket plate arranged to be secured to a vertical support.

3. The holder of claim 2, and pivot means for said clamping frame comprising a pair of spaced arms extending rearwardly from the rear side of said clamping frame and means for journaling said arms on said bracket.

4. The holder of claim 1, and a bag cover, and hinge means pivoting one side of said cover to one side of said clamping frame.

5. The holder of claim 4, said hinge means comprising cooperating piano hinge portions on said pivoting sides of said cover and said clamping frame extending toward each other and spacing said frame and cover from each other, a hinge pivot in said piano hinge portions, and a compressible sealing member secured to the bottom of said cover and overlying said clamping frame occupying the space between said cover and clamping frame when in closed position.

6. The holder of claim 4, and a bag sealing rectangular member mounted between said cover and said clamping frame top sides.

7. The holder of claim 6, in combination with a bag comprising an unfolded folding rectangular bag closed at its bottom end and open at its top, said bag in open position being complementary to the inner sides of said rectangular frame, the upper end of said bag being cut at each folded side a short distance, the cut ends providing lips foldable over the top sides of said open rectangular frame to be secured thereto by said clamping frame thereover.

8. The holder of claim 6, and downwardly depending lips on each of the unpivoted edges of said cover.

9. A holder for holding and clamping the open top of a bag in receiving position, said holder comprising an open rectangular frame, a bracket supporting said frame in fixed horizontal position, and a rectangular bag open top clamping frame pivoted thereto in overlying relationship to said fixed open rectangular frame, said bracket comprising a pair of bars extending rearwardly from said open rectangular frame and a vertically extending bracket plate arranged to be secured to a vertical support, pivot means for said clamping frame comprising a pair of spaced arms extending rearwardly from the rear side of said clamping frame and means for journaling said arms on said bracket, said journalin-g means comprising a gusset on said bracket plate bracing each said bar of said pair, opposed inwardly extending sleeves supported on said 'gussets, and a rod journaled in said pair of sleeves, said spaced arms being secured to said rod.

'10. The holder of claim 9, said clamping frame comprising a rectangular frame overlying the top surface of said open rectangular frame, and an inwardly downwardly non-clamping slanted lip on the inner side of each side of said overlying frame.

11. The holder of claim 9, in combination with a bag comprising an unfolded folding rectangular bag closed at its bottom end and open at its top, said bag in open position being complementary to the inner sides of said rectangular frame, the upper end of said bag being cut at each folded side a short distance, the cut ends providing lips foldable over the top sides of said open rectangular frame to be secured thereto by said clamping frame thereover.

12. The holder and bag of claim 11, and full indicating indicia on the inner surface of said bag appropriately spaced below the top ends thereof to indicate sufficient foldover area for closing the bag when removed from said holder.

13. The holder of claim 10, and a clamping depending lip on the outer edge of a plurality of the sides of said clamping frame.

14. A holder for holding and covering the open top of a trash bag in trash receiving position, said holder comprising an open rectangular frame, a bracket supporting said frame in fixed horizontal position, a rectangular bag open top clamping frame pivoted thereto in overlying relationship to said fixed open rectangular frame, said clamping frame comprising a rectangular frame overlying the top surface of said open rectangular frame, an inwardly downwardly slanted lip on the inner side of each side of said overlying frame, a depending lip on the outer edge of a plurality of the sides of said clamping frame, and a trash bag cover hinged to one side of said clamping frame, a bag sealing rectangular member mounted between said cover and said clamping frame top sides, and a downwardly depending lip on each of the unpivoted edges of said cover, said bracket comprising a pair of bars extending rearwardly from said open rectangular frame, and a vertically extending bracket plate arranged to be secured to a vertical support, and pivot means for said clamping frame comprising a pair of spaced arms extending rearwardly from the rear side of said clamping frame and means for journalin g said arms on said bracket, said journaling means comprising a gusset on said bracket plate bracing each said bar of said pair, opposed inwardly extending sleeves supported on said gussets, and a rod journaled in said pair of sleeves, said spaced arms being secured to said rod, in combination with a trash bag comprising an unfolded folding rectangular bag closed at its bottom end and open at its top, said bag in open position being complementary to the inner sides of said rectangular frame, the upper end of said bag being cut at each folded side a short distance, the cut ends providing lips foldable over the top sides of said open rectangular frame to be secured thereto by said clamping frame thereover.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 127,346 5/1872 Hewitt 248101 3 56,198 1/ 1887 Haydon 248-99 2,123,501 7/1938 Cunninghame 22046 2,276,220 3/1942 Le Ville. 2,425,260 8/ 1947 Mayer 248 2,965,344 12/1960 Baker 248101 FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER FOR HOLDING AND CLAMPING THE OPEN TOP OF A BAG IN RECEIVING POSITION, SAID HOLDER COMPRISING AN OPEN RECTANGULAR FRAME CONSISTING OF BARS RECTANGULAR IN CROSSSECTION, THE TOP AND BOTTOM SIDES OF SAID BARS BEING HORIZONTAL, A BRACKET SUPPORTING SAID FRAME IN FIXED HORIZONTAL POSITION, AND A RECTANGULAR BAG OPEN TOP CLAMPING FRAME PIVOTING THERETO IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FLAT TOP SIDE OF SAID FIXED OPEN RECTANGULAR FRAME, SAID CLAMPING FRAME HAVING FLAT HORIZONTAL CLAMPING SURFACES AND A VERTICAL DEPENDING CLAMPING LIP ON THE OUTER EDGE OF A PLURALITY OF THE SIDES OF SAID HORIZONTAL CLAMPING SURFACES, AND AN INWARDLY DOWNWARDLY SLANTED NON-CLAMPING LIP, SAID LIP EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY OF THE CLAMPED PORTION OF THE BAG, SAID LIP BEING ON THE INNER EDGE OF EACH FLAT TOP OVERLYING HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF SAID OVERLYING CLAMPING FRAME AND SLANTING AWAY FROM THE VERTICAL INNER SIDE OF SAID OPEN RECTANGULAR FRAME AND PROVIDING A FUNNEL DIRECTING MATERIAL BEING PLACED IN THE BAG CLAMPED THEREIN AWAY FROM THE INNER SIDES OF THE BAG ADJACENT THE CLAMPED PORTIONS THEREOF. 